Briefing Session for HKDSE Category C (Other Languages) Subjects€¦ · Briefing Session for HKDSE Category C (Other Languages) Subjects HKEAA Cameron Smart September 24 2015 . Rundown

Briefing Session for HKDSE

Category C

(Other Languages) Subjects

HKEAA

Cameron Smart

September 24 2015

Rundown

The exam: structure & constructs

2015 Results

Review of June & Nov. 2014 exams

Arrangements for 2016 and beyond

Teacher support provision

Q & A

2

Exam Structure

Component Weighting Time

1. Speaking 30% 20 mins.

2. Reading & Writing 50% 1 hr. 45 mins.

3. Essay 20% 1 hr. 30 mins.

3

Structure of Paper 1

Part Mark Allocation Time

1. Presentation 20 3 mins 30 seconds

2. Topic conversation 40 7 -8 minutes

3. General conversation 40 8-9 minutes

4

Paper 1: Speaking

Test constructs

What is being tested?

5

Section 1: Presentation (20 marks)

3 domains:

Content and presentation (10 maximum)

Pronunciation and intonation (5 maximum)

Language (5 maximum)


Content and presentation (10 maximum)

Coverage of topic

Organization and coherence

Opinions and facts

Delivery

Interest

N.B. If no specific reference to society or

cultural heritage of country where language

spoken- half marks for this domain, i.e. max.

is 5.


Pronunciation & intonation (5 maximum)

Accurate pronunciation and intonation

Mother tongue influence / comprehensibility

N.B. Not necessarily native speaker for full

marks. May have some hesitation and errors

for full marks.


Language (5 maximum)

Feel for language

Fluency

Accuracy

Use of relevant idiomatic language

Range of structures

Range of vocab

Ambiguity in meaning

Section 2 (40 marks)

5 domains

Comprehension & responsiveness (10 max)

Accuracy (10 max)

Feel for language (10 max)

Range of vocab & structures

(Providing info & opinion) (5 max)


(Seeking info & opinion) (5 max)



Problems in understanding examiner

Naturalness in responses

Spontaneity and initiative

Ability to defend point of view


Accuracy (10 max)

Frequency of errors

Understanding of grammatical usage



Naturalness

Fluency of expression

Appropriate idiom

Influence of or translation from mother tongue




Variety

Confidence in use vs. limiting expression


5 domains


Accuracy (10 max)







Same as Section 2


5 domains


Accuracy (10 max)







Passage Question Question type example Mark

allocation

Passage 1 1 Vocabulary: seeking synonym

in text

5

2 Grammatical manipulation 5

3 Comprehension questions 20 (15+5)

Passage 2 4 Comprehension questions 20 (15+5)

Passage

1 & 2

5 (a) Summary of details from

both texts

(b) Personal response

20 (10 +5+5)

18

Paper 2: Reading & Writing

Question 1 : Seeking a phrase: Do not to omit words or to include

extra words.

Question 2: Rewriting phrases: Answers should fit back into the

original text, retaining the same meaning.

Questions 3 and 4: Comprehension of texts. Answer in their own

words.

Direct copying of four or more words from the text will usually invalidate

an answer.

Question 5(a): Summary: Introduction, conclusions and vague

generalizations not required. Specific, relevant details attract marks.

Question 5(b): Personal response: Give a point of view and, if

possible, offer ideas which have not appeared in the texts.

Total of 140 words / 280 Japanese characters for both parts in

Question 5.

19


Essay Topic (2016) Word guide Mark Allocation

One of:

Young people; The

media; Education;

Technological

innovation;

Environment

250–400 words

(600–800 characters in

Japanese).

40 marks total:

24 marks: Quality of Language

16 marks: Content

20

Results 2015 examination

21


(in number of candidates)

No. sat a b c d e u

French 59 12 7 13 9 8 10

German 12 4 1 4 2 1 0

Hindi 12 2 1 5 2 0 2

Japanese 199 93 49 26 11 9 11

Spanish 7 3 1 1 0 1 0

Urdu 15 4 3 1 1 1 5

22


(in number of candidates)

No. sat a b c d e u

French 59 12 7 13 9 8 10

German 12 4 1 4 2 1 0

Hindi 12 2 1 5 2 0 2

Japanese 199 93 49 26 11 9 11

Spanish 7 3 1 1 0 1 0

Urdu 15 4 3 1 1 1 5

23


(in percentages)

24

a b c d e u

French 20.30 11.90 22.00 15.30 13.60 16.90

German 33.30 8.40 33.30 16.70 8.30 0.00

Hindi 16.70 8.30 41.70 16.60 0.00 16.67

Japanese 46.70 24.70 13.00 5.50 4.60 5.50

Spanish 42.90 14.20 14.30 1.20 14.30 0.00

Urdu 26.70 20.00 6.60 6.70 6.67 33.40


(in percentages)

25

a b c d e u

French 20.30 11.90 22.00 15.30 13.60 16.90

German 33.30 8.40 33.30 16.70 8.30 0.00

Hindi 16.70 8.30 41.70 16.60 0.00 16.67

Japanese 46.70 24.70 13.00 5.50 4.60 5.50

Spanish 42.90 14.20 14.30 1.20 14.30 0.00

Urdu 26.70 20.00 6.60 6.70 6.67 33.40


26

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

a b c d e u

French


27

Review of June & Nov. 2014 exam

28

Exam Components





29

Key messages: Speaking

Interests of candidate should play a part in choice of

subject for the presentation

Clear reference should be made to the culture or

society of target language

Structure presentation to fit into the allowed 3

minutes 30 seconds

Express not only facts, but ideas and opinions

Focus on the questions asked of them and make

sure they answer what is asked

Candidates expected to ask questions in both

conversation sections.

Key points: French speaking

Candidates generally well prepared.

Candidates should prepare their Topic Presentation thoroughly

and choose topics which allow expression of ideas & opinions.

Be prepared to discuss topics at depth in both conversation

sections.

Pronunciation at the lower end of the range frequently made

candidates very hard to understand. Even in the top and middle

ranges pronunciation and intonation was rarely outstanding.

Candidates at the lower end had prepared factual accounts with

little scope for ideas and opinions.

All candidates made an attempt to develop the ideas of their

presentation in the topic conversation, though they were not in

general able to maintain the same level of language in Section 2

In order to improve, candidates need to hone their

comprehension skills and deepen their knowledge of topics in all

sections.

Key points: German speaking

Candidates all well prepared.

Candidates were aware of the requirement to ask questions of

the Examiner in both conversation sections.

Pronunciation was rather variable- mostly acceptable or even

good, but several candidates had difficulty in making themselves

clearly understood.

Some were able to maintain the same level of language in

Section 2 as in the Presentation.

In some cases candidates were reminded or prompted several

times. This can restrict the mark for responsiveness somewhat,

as spontaneity and natural interaction are then lacking.

In order to improve, candidates should have several general

questions ready to use in any circumstances, in addition to the

ones arising spontaneously from the conversations

Key points: Hindi speaking

The ability range of the candidates was wide.

Candidates often exceeded the allocated timing for the

Presentation. Candidates should practise timings for this part of

the test.

Candidates need to be prepared to discuss topics with reference

to the contemporary society or cultural heritage of a country

where Hindi is spoken.

Matters arising from the Presentation in the Topic Conversation

were often dealt with at a fairly basic level.

Only a minority of candidates remembered to ask the Examiner

at least one question in each of the conversation parts of the

test.

A few strong performances in which the conversation ranged

over complex and sophisticated matters. In general,

conversation remained at a limited level.

Key points: Japanese speaking

Majority of candidates had been well prepared for the

requirements of the examination.

Pronunciation was generally acceptable.

Candidates chose a variety of interesting and appropriate topic

areas

Candidates were not in general able to maintain the same level

of language in Section 2. Some candidates needed a broader

vocabulary to enable them to express their ideas and opinions

more fully.

Weaker candidates should be able to ask the Examiner to

repeat a question or to tell the Examiner that they have not

understood the question, so that they can move on to an

alternative line of discussion.

Not all candidates managed to provide extended responses to

questions asked by the examiner, which are needed to access

the highest marks. 34

Key points: Spanish speaking

Candidates well prepared for the requirements of the examination

Weaker candidates had difficulty in coping with unexpected questions.

Authentic intonation was sometimes lacking.

Could have been greater focus on the Hispanic perspective in

presentation

Introducing a topic about the Spanish-speaking world to someone who

is interested but who does not know much about it.

For Section 2, candidates could ask themselves, if they were someone

who did not know about the topic, what would they need to know, and

what questions might that person have? Which issues might be

controversial and how might they need to clarify or justify a personal

position?

For Section 3, candidates should remember to have relevant factual

information, provide suitable examples in support, and be prepared to

offer and justify an opinion and develop a point. Practice in asking

questions to seek information and obtain someone else’s opinion could

be a useful exercise. 35

Key points: Urdu speaking

Some candidates well prepared.

Choose a particular aspect of a topic of personal interest rather

than deal with a wide area.

Candidates were not aware of the requirement to ask questions

of the Examiner in Section 2 so no one could score marks for

this criterion.

Pronunciation was generally acceptable,

It is important for candidates to listen to the Examiner’s

questions attentively and respond appropriately.

The majority of candidates who scored higher marks in this

section were able to discuss a variety of topics.

36

Exam Components





37

Paper 3: Essay – Key Points

Select the title with which they feel most comfortable.

Write a response that is clearly relevant, well illustrated,

coherently structured and well informed.

Use target language which is accurate and of a suitably

advanced nature, as well as demonstrate a good use of idiom

and appropriate topic-related vocabulary.

Use sentence patterns which show some evidence of

complexity in a style which is easy to follow.

Leave some time at the end of the examination to check for

avoidable language errors.

Stay within the prescribed word limits (250-400 words / 600 –

800 Japanese characters).

Do not to use transliterations of English words instead of the

appropriate vocabulary items in Hindi / Urdu.

38

Number of Candidates

(Nov 2015 series - for exam year 2016)

Subject Candidates

French 5

German 8

Hindi 0

Japanese 209

Spanish 2

Urdu 32

Total 256

Arrangements for 2016 HKDSE

2016 (Nov Series) (i.e. taken in October 2015) results to be released in

late Jan or early Feb as usual

2016 (June Series) (i.e. taken April/ May 2016) results to be released in

early August

June series will be considered by JUPAS for admission purposes

One-off special arrangement

40

Arrangements for 2017 HKDSE

and beyond

2017 (Nov Series) (i.e. taken in October 2016) results to be released in

late Jan or early Feb 2017 as usual

All candidates of all Cat C subjects recommended to take the Nov.

series exam, i.e. in October 2016.

2017 (June series) will be administered depending on demand.

41

Teaching support provision

42

Exam logistics:

Christine Lee: [email protected]

Exam administration:

Cameron Smart: [email protected]

43

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Briefing Session for HKDSE Category C (Other Languages) Subjects€¦ · Briefing Session for HKDSE Category C (Other Languages) Subjects HKEAA Cameron Smart September 24 2015 . Rundown